Spill Containment Generation

ABSTRACT

The instant application discloses, among other things, a foam-based boom to provide for a spill containment on either water or land. In one embodiment, an expanding foam, such as polyurethane, may be used form a cylindrical or other shaped boom, providing strength, flexible boom shape and size, and easy deployment. Multiple types of foams may be used together; for example, a water absorbing foam may be used in conjunction with a waterproof foam, to allow for a boom to extend both underwater and above water.

FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to a spill containment generation system.

BACKGROUND

Oil and other chemical spills may wreak havoc on the environment, causing wildlife, fish, plants, water and soil to be contaminated, sometimes for years. Spills happen when drilling, transporting, delivering, and almost any handling of these dangerous chemicals.

For oil spills, booms are often deployed to control the spread of pollution. Booms may be effective, but they may be bulky and hard to store. They may also be difficult to deploy, depending on the size of the spill and the terrain, if the spill is on land.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure to provide a basic understanding to the reader. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure, nor does it identify key or critical elements of the claimed subject matter, or define its scope. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts disclosed in a simplified form as a precursor to the more detailed description later presented.

The instant application discloses, among other things, a Spill Containment Generation System. A foam-based boom may provide for spill containment on either water or land. In one embodiment, an expanding foam, such as polyurethane, may form a cylindrical or other shaped boom, providing strength, flexible boom shape and size, and easy deployment. Multiple types of foams may be used together; for example, a water absorbing foam may be used with a waterproof foam, to allow for a boom to extend both underwater and above water.

Water deployment may be performed by a boat, such as a Zodiac® or other small powerboat, or other while land deployment may be made by a pickup truck, a tractor, an all-terrain vehicle, or other means. The foam may be mixed as it is sprayed, and a sprayer may form the foam into a particular shape. Different shapes may be selected for different environmental conditions or configurations. For example, a land-based spill on a flat area may benefit from a “J” shaped boom, while a cylindrical boom with a water absorbing foam attached may be more effective for an ocean spill.

Many of the attendant features may be more readily appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description considered in connection with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present description may be better understood from the following detailed description read in light of the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an example of foam boom, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration of a boat for spraying a foam boom, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a spray nozzle arrangement according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an end view of a water-based foam boom according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an end view of a water-based foam boom according to another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an end view of a land-based foam boom according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an end view of a land-based foam boom according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an end view of a land-based foam boom according to another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a spray head, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a system suitable for Spill Containment Generation according to one embodiment.

FIG. 11 illustrates a configuration of helicopter using a long line for spraying foam boom, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 12 illustrates an integrated Microprocessor Control System for controlling Spill Containment Generation, according to one embodiment. Like reference numerals are used to designate like parts in the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Different foams may be suitable for creating Spill Containment booms. In the instant application, examples use polyurethane, but other types of foam or combinations of types of foam which fill partially float on water, cure rapidly, and are sufficiently strong may also be used.

A more particular description of certain embodiments of Spill Containment may be had by references to the embodiments shown in the drawings that form a part of this specification, in which like numerals represent like objects.

FIG. 1 is an example of Foam Boom 130, according to one embodiment. In this example, Ship 110 may have spilled oil or another chemical, causing Spill 120. Using a small boat, such as a Zodiac™, Foam Boom 130 may be spread by mixing and spraying foam while driving in a roughly spiral shape around Ship 110. Foam Boom 130 may be sealed by manipulating the boat near a previously laid portion of Boom 130. The number of loops made around Ship 110 may vary depending on various factors, including size of the spill, weather, and sensitivity of the ecosystem.

In another embodiment, Foam Boom 130 may be created by spraying foam from Ship 110. One having skill in the art will recognize there are many ways to distribute foam to form a boom.

FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration of a boat for spraying Foam Boom 130, according to one embodiment. Boat 210 may be a small, stable boat, large enough to hold 55-Gallon Drums 240, 250 of Foam Supply 230. Foam Supply 230 may be coupled to Spray Pump 240, which may pump foam through Spray Nozzle 220. Spray Nozzle 220 may be roughly one foot in diameter in one embodiment.

Foam Supply 230 may include two components, contained in 55-Gallon Drums 240, 250, which are mixed to produce an expandable foam boom. These components are often referred to as A and B. Water may also be mixed in when creating the expandable foam boom.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of Spray Nozzle 310 arrangement according to another embodiment. When conditions warrant a stronger boom, for example in choppy waters, a crisscrossed pattern Foam Boom 320 may be generated by configuring Spray Nozzles 310 in a pivoting manner about Pivot 330. Spray Nozzles 310 may be roughly three inches in diameter in some embodiments. This may provide extra protection against a spill escaping an area.

FIG. 4 is an end view of water-based Foam Boom 130 according to one embodiment. Waterproof Foam 410 may be merged with Water Absorbing Foam 420 to create Foam Boom 130, which may self-right in water. Water Absorbing Foam 420 may absorb water into Water-Filled Pockets 440, which may make it heavier than Waterproof Foam 410, which may have Air-Filled Pockets 430. Water may be absorbed post-deployment, when Foam Boom 130 is in water, or water may be added during a foam expanding process.

This cross-sectional shape may be produced by using a mold on a spray nozzle, such as Spray Nozzle 220, or Spray Nozzle 310. A mold may be lubricated, for example by a soap-based solution, to allow a foam boom to freely flow through the nozzle. The spry nozzle may allow inputs for multiple types of foam to provide a boom with different properties in different areas. For this example, Water Absorbing Foam 420 and Waterproof Foam 410 may enter the nozzle and mold from different sources, for example two different sets of Foam Supply 250.

One having skill in the art will recognize that different ways may be used to produce various cross-sectional shapes and configurations of materials for a foam boom.

FIG. 5 is an end view of water-based Foam Boom 130 according to another embodiment. Hollow Boom 510 may allow for water to enter in Water Channel 520, which may allow Foam Boom 130 to partially sink, which may provide a barrier to a spill on water.

FIG. 6 is an end view of a land-based Foam Boom 610 according to one embodiment. Foam Boom 610 may be suitable as a surface berm for dry flat areas, where a ground cover may act as a bonding surface.

FIG. 7 is an end view of a land-based foam boom according to another embodiment. In this embodiment, Foam Boom 1110 may be formed in the shape of a j, providing Holding Area 1120, which may help further prevent an oil spill from spreading out in some environments.

FIG. 8 is an end view of a Land-Based Foam Boom 710 according to another embodiment. Foam Boom 710 may be suitable as a trenched berm for robust terrain areas, where bonding to ground cover may not be effective. A trench may be dug, and a Foam Boom 710 may be sprayed, forming a Below-Surface Portion 730 in the trench, and Above-Surface Portion 720. This may provide a better seal for spill containment than Foam Boom 610 on rough ground.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a spray head, according to one embodiment. Output Nozzle 810 may have different shapes, which may allow various cross-sectional shapes of foam booms to be sprayed. Foam components may enter the spray head through Input A 820 and Input B 830. The foam components may then be mixed or aerated in Aeration Chamber 840, which may allow the foam to cure. This spray head may be used, for example, to mix polyurethane foam, which may have A and B components to mix prior to curing. Foam components may enter Aeration Chamber 840 by a gravity feed or by a pump.

One having skill in the art will recognize that various shapes for an output nozzle may be used, and that different types of foam may require differing numbers of inputs, heat, or other attributes during a mixing and curing process.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a system suitable for Spill Containment Generation according to one embodiment. For land-based spills, a tracked vehicle may be used to drive a route around the spill, generating and pumping a foam boom to the ground. Trenching System 920 may be used to dig a trench to secure the Land-Based Boom 710 when appropriate, while Land Boom 610 may be used when not trenching. Foam Components 910 may be mixed in Aeration Chamber 930 and sprayed out through Foam Output Head 940.

FIG. 11 illustrates a configuration of helicopter using a long line for spraying Foam Boom 130, according to one embodiment. Helicopter 210 may be a large enough to support two 55-gallon drums 1040, 1050 of Foam Supply 1030. Foam Supply 1030 may be coupled to Spray Pump 1040, which may pump foam through Spray Nozzle 1020. Spray Nozzle 1020 may be roughly one foot in diameter in some embodiments.

FIG. 12 illustrates an integrated Microprocessor Control System 1200 for controlling Spill Containment Generation, according to one embodiment. Microprocessor Control System 1200 may include Speed Input 1210, to receive information concerning nozzle speed relative to a spill. This may allow Microprocessor Control System 1200 to adjust the generation speed, volume, or other properties of a foam boom. Electronic outputs Foam A Valve Control 1220, Foam B Valve Output 1230, Lubricant Valve Output 1240, and Water Valve Output 1250 may be adjusted automatically by Microprocessor Control System 1200, which may adjust corresponding valves.

An operator may also control the electronic Foam A Valve Output 1220, Foam B Valve Output 1230, Lubricant Valve Output 1240, and Water Valve Output 1250 by using Operator Controls 1295.

Nozzle position may also be controlled automatically or manually by a control adjusting Nozzle Position Output 1260.

Emergency Off Switch 1290 may be used to stop Spill Containment Generation.

While the detailed description above has been expressed in terms of specific examples, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many other configurations could be used. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that various equivalent modifications of the above-described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Additionally, the illustrated operations in the description show certain events occurring in a certain order. In alternative embodiments, certain operations may be performed in a different order, modified or removed. Moreover, steps may be added to the above described logic and still conform to the described embodiments. Further, operations described herein may occur sequentially or certain operations may be processed in parallel. Yet further, operations may be performed by a single processing unit or by distributed processing units.

The foregoing description of various embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto. The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended. 

1. A spill containment generation system, comprising: a first holding tank, configured to hold a first component of a first expanding polyurethane foam; a second holding tank, configured to hold a second component of the first expanding polyurethane foam; a first mixing tank, configured to receive the first component of the first expanding polyurethane foam and the second component of the first expanding polyurethane foam from the first and second tanks, mixing the components, and providing a first expanding polyurethane foam; and a pump, configured to pump the expanding polyurethane foam through a first nozzle, creating a spill containment boom.
 2. The spill containment generation system of claim 1, further comprising a mold to produce the boom with a cross-sectional shape, the shape selected based on environmental conditions or configurations.
 3. The spill containment generation system of claim 1, further comprising a second nozzle, the first and second nozzles configured to provide a crisscross pattern for the spill containment boom.
 4. The spill containment generation system of claim 1, further comprising a boat configured to transport the first nozzle around a spill.
 5. The spill containment generation system of claim 1, further comprising a tracked vehicle configured to transport the first nozzle around a spill.
 6. The spill containment generation system of claim 1, further comprising a helicopter configured to transport the first nozzle around a spill.
 7. The spill containment generation system of claim 1, further comprising an integrated microprocessor control system and electronically controlled valves configured to control a speed of generation of the spill containment boom based upon a speed of the nozzle relative to the spill.
 8. The spill containment generation system of claim 1, further comprising: a third holding tank, configured to hold a first component of a second expanding polyurethane foam; a fourth holding tank, configured to hold a second component of a second expanding polyurethane foam; and a second mixing tank, configured to receive the first component of the second expanding polyurethane foam and the second component of the second expanding polyurethane foam from the third and fourth tanks, mixing the components, and providing a second expanding polyurethane foam, the second expanding polyurethane foam having at least one property different from the first expanding polyurethane foam.
 9. The spill containment generation system of claim 7, further comprising a mold to produce the boom with the first expanding polyurethane foam forming a first part of a cross-sectional shape, and the second expanding polyurethane foam forming a second part of the cross-sectional shape. 